Window cleaning apparatus



Aug. 29, 192.3. EHR 1,924,922

WINDOW CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 28, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V ENTOR.

I A TTORNEYS.

Aug. 29, 1933. c. GEHRIG WINDOW CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 28, 1931 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 29, 1933 UNITED sTA'res WINDOW CLEANINGAPPARATUS Carl Gehrig, West New Ycrk, N. J., assignor of one-half toKarl P. May, West New York,

Applicaticn October 28, 1931.

7 Claims.

This invention relates in general to window cleaning apparatus and moreparticularly to that type of window cleaner in which a wiper is mountedon the frame of a window at one side 5 of a sash so as to have a wipingcontact with the glass of the sash when the sash is raised and lowered.

One object of the invention is to provide a window cleaning apparatus ofthis character which shall include a frame having means for removablymounting it in a window frame so that the apparatus can be used forcleaning both the upper and lower sashes and both sides thereof.

Other objects are to provide a window cleaning apparatus which shallinclude a frame to be mounted in a window frame at one side of the sashand which shall have a wiper movably mounted on the frame so as to moveinto and out of contact with the glass of said sash, in combination withmeans operated by the sash at the limits of its movement for actuatingthe wiper into and out of wiping contact with the glass; to provide awindow cleaner of the character described that shall have a liquidfountain on the frame, a spray head on the wiper, and means for ejectingthe liquid from the fountain through the spray head upon the glass, andto obtain other advantages and results as will be brought out by thefollowing description. 7

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which corresponding and likeparts are designated by the same reference characters throughout' theseveral views,

Figure 1 is an elevation of a window cleaning apparatus embodying myinvention showing it applied to a window and viewed from the outside.

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the window cleaningapparatus in use for cleaning the outside of the upper sash instead ofthe lower sash as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a similar view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 5.

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view on the also facilitate inhandling the frame.

Serial No. 571,483

Figure 8 is a bottom plan view of the wiper, and,

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional perspective view of the wiper.

Specifically describing the illustrated embodiment of the invention, Ihave shown it in connection with a window of known constructionincluding a frame or casing A in the sides B of which are slidable upperand lower sashes C and D respectively, said sashes having the usualglass panes E.

The apparatus includes a frame 1 having one end 2 provided with lugs 3to frictionally engage one side of the window frame. Upon the other endof the frame 1 is slidably mounted a clamping head 4 having lugs 5 tofrictionally grip the other side of the window frame. This clamping headis normally actuated longitudinally outwardly on the main frame bycompression springs 6, and is actuated inwardly upon the frame by alever 7 pivoted at 8 on the frame and connected to one end of a pull-rod9, the otherend of which is secured to the clamping head. Preferably theframe also includes standards 10 which may serve to support the frame onthe window-sill F and Normally the length of the frame between the lugs3 and the lugs 5 on the clamping head when the clamping head is in itsoutmost position is greater than the distance between the sides of thewindow frame, and to insert the frame in a window, the lever '7 isgrasped in one hand while one of the standards is grasped in the otherhand, the handle N of the lever being swung outwardly so as to pull theclamping head inwardly on the frame. The lugs 3 and 5 are then broughtinto contact with the respective sides of the window frame, after whichthe lever '7 is released and the springs 6 securely hold the frame inposition. Preferably the lugs 3 and 5 are set into the guide grooves Gprovided in the frame for the sashes, and when the apparatus is to beused for cleaning the outside of the lower sash the frame 1 is set inthe grooves of the upper sash.

Obviously the apparatus may be used for cleaning both the outside andthe inside of both sashes.

Upon the frame 1 is mounted a wiper 11, and preferably the wiper ismounted to move toward and from the glass of the sash as by means ofarms 12 pivotally connected at 13 on horizontal axes upon one side ofthe frame. The

1 wiper includes a strip of rubber or the like 14,

and is preferably adjustable upon the arms 12 as by bolts 15 tocompensate for wear of the rubber and to vary the pressure of the rubberagainst the glass.

On the underside of the wiper is mounted a spray head shown in the formof a perforated pipe 16, and this spray head is connected by flexibletubes 1'? to a fountain 18 secured on the frame to contain a suitablecleaning fluid such as water or alcohol. The container or fountain 18has a filling opening 19 and the liquid is ejected from the fountain bya collapsible bulb or the like 20 connected by a tube 21 to thefountain. By squeezing the bulb 20, pressure is exerted on the liquid inthe fountain so that some of the liquid is squirted through the sprayhead.

Another feature of the invention is the automatic moving of the wiperinto and out of contact with the glass of the sash being cleaned. Foraccomplishing this result one arm 12 is provided with an extension 22connected by a link 23 to one end of a lever 24 pivotally mountedintermediate its ends at 25 on one of the standards 10. The other end 26of the lever projects laterally from the standard so as to be engaged bythe underside of the lower rail of the sash, so that as the sashdescends into contact with the lever, at its lower limit of movement thewiper is actuated toward the glass of the sash. The wiper is held insuch position by a pawl lever 27 pivotally mounted at 28 on' the wiperand engaging a segmental ratchet 29 on the frame 1, as most clearlyshown in Figure 6 of the drawing. The lever 27 projects into the path ofthe lower rail of the sash so as to be lifted by engagement with theupper side of the lower rail of the sashat the upper limit of movementof the latter, to permit the wiper to move away from the glass. Thewiper may be so mounted as to move by gravitational action away from theglass, but preferably a spring 30 is provided to accelerate themovement. a

In use of the apparatus and assuming it is desired to clean the outerside of the lower sash of the window, the apparatus is mounted as shownin Figure 2 of the drawings, where the lower sash has been moved to itslower limit of movement so as to actuate the wiper into contact with theglass. With the sash in this position, the liquid is ejected from thefountain upon the glass by squeezing the bulb 20, after which the sashis raised as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings until the lower rail ofthe sash engages the pawl lever 27 to release the wiper so that it maymove away from the sash. During the raising of the sash, the wiper iscaused to wipe the liquid and dirt from the glass downwardly to thelower rail of the sash. If the glass is not clean by this one operation,the sash may be again lowered and the operation repeated, with orwithout liquid.

For cleaning the outside of the upper sash, the apparatus is located asshown in Figure 3 of the drawings with the upper sash brought to thelower part of the window frame and the upper sash moved to the upperpart of the frame. The glass is cleaned in exactly the same manner asdescribed in connection with the lower sash.

Similarly the insides of the glasses of the two sashes may be cleaned bymounting the apparatus on the window frame at the inside of the sashesinstead of at the outside.

It will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that the frames 1and'wipers will be made of different sizes for use in windows ofdifferent sizes, and that where the sash includes several panesseparated by mullions, the wiper strip 15 will be provided with notchesto provide a clearance for the mullions.

While I have shown and described my invention as embodied in certaindetails of construction it should be understood that this is primarilyfor illustrating the principles of the invention and that manymodifications and changes may be made in the details of constructionwithout departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. Cleaning apparatus for a window having a casing and a sliding sashhaving upper and lower rails, said apparatus comprising a frame, meansthereon for mounting the frame in a window casing at one side of a sash,a wiper mounted on said frame'so as to be located adjacent the lowerlimit of movement of the upper rail of the sash when said frame ismounted in a window frame and to move into and out of contact with theglass of said sash so that as the sash is moved upwardly said wiper willwipe the glass, and means operatively conn cted to said wiper and havinga part located to be adjacent the lower limit of movement of the lowerrail of the sash when said frame is mounted in a window frame and to beactuated by said lower rail as said rail reaches the lower limit of itsmovement to move d wiper into contact with said glass adjacent the upperrail of said sash.

2. Cleaning apparatus for a window having a casing and a sliding sashhaving upper and lower 5' j said apparatus comprising a frame, means 110thereon for mounting the frame in a window casing at one side of a sash,a wiper mounted on said frame so as to be located adjacent the lowerlimit of movement of the upper rail of the sash when said frame ismounted in a window frame and to move into and out of contact with theglass of said sash so that as the sash is moved upwa dly said wiper willwipe the glass, and means opera vely connected to said wiper forreleasably holding said wiper in contact with the glass during movementof the sash in said direction and having a part located to be adjacentthe upper limit of movement of the lower rail of said sash when saidframe is-iiounted in a window." frame and to be actuatedby said lowerrail as said rail reaches the upper limit of its movement to releasesaid, wiper for movement out of contact with said glass adjacent saidlower rail.

m or

. 3. Cleaning apparatus for a window having a",

casing and asliding sash having upper and lower rails, said apparatuscomprising a frame, means thereon for mounting the frame in a windowcasing at one side of a sash, a wiper mounted on said frame so as to belocated adjacent one limit of movement of one rail of said sash whensaid frame is mounted in a window frame and to move into and out ofcontact with the glass of said sash so that as the sash is moved in onedirection said wiper will wipe the glass, and means operativelyconnected to said wiper and ,1 having a part located to be adjacent onelimit of movement'of the other rail of the sash when said frame ismounted in a window frame and to be actuated by said other rail as itreaches said limit of its movement to move said'wiper into contact withsaid glass.

4. Cleaning apparatus for a window having a casing and a sliding sashhaving upper and lower rails said apparatus comprising a frame, meansthereon for mounting the frame in a window casing at one side of a sash,a wiper mounted on said frame to move into and out of contact with theglass of said sash so that as the sash is moved in one direction saidwiper will wipe the glass, means operatively connected to said wiper andhaving a part located to be adjacent one limit of movement of one railof said sash when said frame is mounted in a window frame and to beactuated by said rail as said rail reaches one limit of its movement tomove said wiper into contact with said glass, and means operativelyconnected to said wiper and having a part located to be adjacent theother limit of movement of said rail when said frame is mounted in thewindow frame and to be actuated by said rail at said other limit of itsmovement to move said wiper out of contact with said glass.

5. A window cleaning apparatus comprising a frame, means thereon formounting the frame in a window frame at one side of a sash, a wiperpivotally mounted on a horizontal axis on said frame to contact with theglass of said sash as the sash is moved in one direction, meansincluding a lever on said frame adjacent one end thereof to be actuatedby the sash at one limit of its movement, and an operative connectionbetween said lever and said Wiper for moving said wiper toward saidglass, means for holding said wiper in such position, and meansoperatively connected with the holding means and having a part locatedat the other end of said frame to be operated by the sash at its otherlimit of movement for releasing the holding means to permit said wiperto move away from said glass. 6. The window cleaning apparatus set forthin claim 5 with the addition of means for actuating said Wiper away fromthe glass of said sash. 7. A window cleaning apparatus comprising aframe, means thereon for mounting the frame in a window frame at oneside of a sash, a wiper pivotally mounted on a horizontal axis on saidframe adjacent the upper end thereof to contact with the glass of saidsash as the sash is moved in one direction, means including a lever onsaid frame adjacent the lower end thereof to be actuated by the sash atthe lower limit of its movement and an operative connection between saidlever and said wiper for moving said wiper toward said glass, a ratcheton said frame adjacent the upper end thereof, and a pawl lever on saidWiper to engage said ratchet for holding said wiper in contact with theglass, said pawl lever to be engaged by the sash at the limit of itsupper movement to disengage said pawl lever from said ratchet and permitsaid wiper to move out of contact with the glass.

CARL GEHRIG.

